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Oct- 7 s. 'E. B. SHEPARD GIRDLE BRASSIE'RE 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 29

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

s. E. B. SHEPARD GIRDLE BRASSIIJRE Filed Jan; 29. 1926 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Oct. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES SARAH E. B. SHEPARD, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

GIRDLE BRAssIEnn.

Application filed January 29, 1926.

This invention relates to a body garment of the combined girdle and brassie're type, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a flexible garment of the class referred to which when worn will permit freedom of movement without any discomfiture, as well as imparting to the body of the wearer an erect, graceful carriage and shapely appearance without the employment of hooks, eyes and bones. j

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a garment of the class referred to, capable of'being worn as a combined corset and brassiere, at the same time overcoming the discomfort or possible internal harm present when stiff corsets are worn, and enablingv the wearer to keep her figure trim and suppic, but accomplishing this latter without the uncomfortable feeling of being laced in.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a combined girdle and brassiere, comprising a one piece body portion having an adjustable lacing means at the lower ends of the sides thereof, whereby thewearer can regulate the tightness or looseness of the fit of the garment at the hips and sides of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a combined girdle and brassierecomprising a. flexible body portion including shoulder straps and further including hose supporters whereby these latter can be employed for anchoring the garment and stockings of the wearer with respect to each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a combined girdle and brassiere including means for detachably connecting a combination suit or other garment therewith to revent the shifting of one relative to the ot er.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a combined girdle and brassiere which is simplein its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, flexible, compact, thoroughly efiicient in its use, conveniently positioned with respect to the body of the wearer, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

lVith. the foregoing'and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel con struction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically ,de:

scribed and illustrated in the accompanying Serial No. 84,866.

looking toward the inner side of the garment. I

A combined girdle and brassiere in accordance with this invention comprises a body portion 1, formed from a single piece of fabric of appropriate length and of a width to extend from the thighs to enclose the bust of the wearer. The piece of fabric is so shaped that at a point between its vertical median and one end thereof an extension or flap 2 is provided which depends an appropriate distance below-the bottom edge of the body portion and which has its side edges free of connection with the body portion an appropriate distance above the bottom edge of the latter. The flap 2, when the garment is worn, depends from the central part of the front of the garment. The body portion 1 and flap 2 are cut away at the bottom thereof to form a pair of depending tabs 3. 4. The top edge of the body portion is so shaped as to provide a concave portion between the transverse median of the body portion and one edge thereof. The setting up of the top edge of the body portion in the manner as stated-provides for the back of the garment, to be of less height'than the front, when the garment is worn.

Secured to the inner face of the body portion 1 and extending from end to end thereof and also flush with the bottom edge of the body portion is a flexible lining 5 which has its top' edge positioned at a point between the longitudinal median and the top edge of the body portion 1 whereby that part of the latter above the lining will be of greater flexibility than that part opposed by the lining. That part of the body tioil above the lining forms the breeders and are we; spewed by the wares raise the a. ortion 1- girdle. The top edge of the lining 5 is secured to the body portion 1 by a row of stitching 6 extending lengthwise thereof.

Secured to the body portion 1 and lining 5 and arranged throughout the inner face of the garment are spaced, transversely extending, narrow, flexible strips 7, 8, 9 and 10. The strips 7 and 8 terminate at a point removed from the-top edge of the body portion 1 and further at a point above the bottom edge o fthe lining 5. The strip 9 extends from the top of the body portion 1 and terminates at a point removed from the lower end thereof.

bottom edges of the body portion 1. The strips 7, 8, 9 and 10 have their lower parts secured on the outer face of the lining 5 and their upper parts project onto and are secured to the inner face of thebody portionl above the top edge of the lining 5 and provide stays.

Secured to the outer face of the lin ng 5 by, the stitching 11 is a series of lengthwise extending, spaced, narrow, flexible stay members 12 which extend from the stay strip 7 to the stay strip 8, and extending transversely with respect to the lining 5 and securedto the stay members 11, are spaced, narrow, flexible stay members 13 and which reinforce the central portion of the front of the, garment as the said stay members 7, 8, 1,2 and 13 are positioned at the inner face of the central part of the front of the body The stay members 12 and 13 form what may be termed a group of stay members andsaid group is spaced from the top and bottom edges of the body portion. When the garment is worn the group of stay members is positioned centrally of the front of the garment,see Figure 1. The

group is arranged directly above the extension 2. Secured to the lining 5 and extend are supporters 24.

ing transversely with respect to the lower part. of. the stay members 13 is a loop formiiig member 14 for suspension purposes and secured to the lining 5 and extending trans versely with respect to the lower part of the stay member 10 is a loop forming member 15' for suspension purposes. Secured to the lower portion of the lining 5, are spaced re inforcing members 16, 17, 18 and 19 and to -which. the upper end of the supporters 20,

.21, 22 and 23 are removably secured. supporters depend from the body portion 1 The and lining 5 and are employed for anchoring the garment to the stockings. Removably secuned to and dependingfrom the tabs 3 4 The securing means for the supporters consists of buttons 25 carried by the upper ends thereof and which extend through but ton-holes 26 formed at the lower part of the body portion 1 and in the tabs 3, 4. By this arrangement the supporters are detatchably The ends of the strip 10 are I arranged in close proximity to the top and secured to the bottom of the garment. The supporters 24 in connection with the tabs 3, 4 provide for a direct downward pull at each side of the vertical median at the front of the body portion to set up a snug fit for the central part of the body portion at the front thereofand as the part 2 is not sidewise connected to the body portion its position can be changed without shifting the portions of the body portionadjacent the part 2.

The body portion l and lining 5 are slitjted intermediate the ends of the bottom edge thereof and secured to said body portion and lining and projecting from one edge of the .slit is a flexible member 2'7 provided with a series of eyelets 28. The member 27 extends upon the outer face of the body portion 1 and opposes a flexible member 29 which is secured to the outer face of the body portion 1 and is formed with a series of eyelets 30. Common to the eyelets 28 and 30 is a lacing 31 for adjustably connecting themembers 27 and 29 together. The body portion and lining at the slit is extended,.as at 32 to provide a flap which extends under themeinber 27 and against the lining 5.

Secnredto the bodyportion 1 and lining 5, at each end thereof, is a transversely extending flexible tap of less length than the width of the body portion. Each tape extends from the top of the body portion and terminates at apoint removedfroni the bottom edge of the lining 5. The tapes are arranged'on the inner side of the garment and oneof the tapes is indicated at 32 and is provided with a series of eyes 33. The other tape is indicated at 34 and is provided with series of books 35. The hooks and eyes coact to detachably secure the garment in encircling position with respect to the body of the wearer. Below the tape 34 an extension 36 is secured to the body portion 1 and lining 5 and is provided with a series of eyelets 37. The outer faceof the body portionl, adjacent the right end thereof is provided with a hinged flexible member 38 provided with eyelets 39. A lacing 40 is common tothe eyelets 37 and 39. The lacings 31 and 40 in connection with the eyelets 28, 30, 37 and39 provide means for varying the size of the bottom of the garment. V

The top of the body portion 1 is formed on its inner face with a hem 41 and one end of the hem has attached thereto an eye 42 and its other end a hook 43 which coact to connect the ends of the hem together when the body portion is in position with respect to the wearer. Secured to the hem 41 is a pair of shoulder straps 44, 45.

Securedto the outer face of the body portion 1, above the elements 27, 29, 36 and 38 are spaced buttons 46 disposed in a row extending lengthwise of the body portion, and which are employed for detachably connecting a. garment therewith and in enveloping brassiere.

position with respect to the combined girdle and brassiere, and said buttons prevent the garment, such as a combination or other garment shifting relative to the girdle and The buttons 46 are positioned between the longitudinal median and lower edge of the body portion. The body portion is so shaped whereby it gradually de creases in length from its bottom to its top whereby when the body portion is set up in band encircling form the top thereof will be of less length than the bottom. One end edge of the body portion has its lower part slightly curved. The extension 36 is secured to and projects from the body portion at the slightly curved lower part of said end edge.

It is thought the many advantages of a combined girdle and brassiere, in accordance with this invention, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is 2- A combined girdle and brassiere, having, in combination, a flexible body member provided with means for connecting it in band like form on the wearer, said body member having its upper portion of greater flexibility throughout than its lower portion, said upper and lower portions providing respectively a brassiere part and a. girdle part,

spaced transversely extending flexible stay members disposed throughout the inner face of said body member, secured to said bras siere part and extending onto and secured to said girdle part, a pair of the said stay members positioned between the vertical median and one end of the body member, superposed, spaced parallel longitudinally extending flexible stay elements secured solely to said girdle part and arranged between and extending to said pair of stay members, and spaced, parallel transversely extending stay elements secured against said longitudinal stay elements and arranged solely on said girdle part, the upper one of said longitudinal stay elements positioned at the top of the girdle part and the lower one of said longitudinal stay elements positioned above the bottom of said girdle part, said transverse stay elements having their ends secured to the upper and lower longitudinal stay elements.

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature hereto.

SARAH E. B. SHEPARD. 

